Cathay Pacific’s new Aria Suite seating and Premium Economy class hits the skies

Cathay Pacific’s all-new Aria Suite seating and Premium Economy class are finally in the skies. Zaneta Cheng checks in to check them out 

Visit to Tokyo is never a bad idea, especially if you’re at the Four Seasons, sitting at Est, overlooking the skyline of Otemachi, nibbling on a delectable bite of pumpkin feuille topped with caviar and washing it down with sips of champagne. But it’s probably an even better idea to start your visit to Tokyo in the sky-high comfort of Cathay Pacific’s all-new business-class cabin featuring the Aria Suite. In an update that has had frequent flyers buzzing with anticipation, the rollout comes alongside a new Premium Economy and refreshed Economy class on retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER planes. 

Flying out of the Fragrant Harbour, the Cathay business-class experience begins at one of three lounges at Hong Kong International Airport. Both The Deck and The Pier have been designed by Ilse Crawford’s London-based Studioilse in such a way that weary travellers get the sense they’re entering a luxurious cocoon of soft lighting, warm woods and plush seating. Add the requisite bowl of pre-flight dan dan noodles, or perhaps a shower replete with Bamford amenities, and it’s boarding time. 

Stepping foot into the cabin, one finds the configuration is familiar. It’s on the diagonal, which is not unlike the herringbone business-class configuration of yore. The one-two-one configuration continues to give passengers direct aisle access with
the addition of a personal sliding privacy door. It makes a difference, as does the new 24-inch screen with 4K display, which truly transforms in-flight entertainment given the size of the screen and the cosiness of the space when the privacy door is shut. 

Bluetooth and wi-fi are options available to Aria Suite passengers. The screen can be paired with personal headphones and Diamond members as well as first- and business-class passengers are given complimentary inflight wi-fi. But unless you’re really looking to get things done, Cathay Pacific’s in-flight entertainment offerings and the ease of the system will keep you occupied throughout even the longest of flights. 

There’s also a new over-the-shoulder seatbelt, wireless charging integrated into the side table, and a host of nooks and crannies for passengers to place laptops, phones, wires, water bottles, books – you nameit. The table to the side clicks open to reveal cubby storage underneath, and there’s a new function on the screen for passengers to see which washrooms are free in their class at any given time to save on queuing. 

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One of the more advanced features of the seat, which is now covered in woven wool, is the control buttons. With an interactive buttonless interface, adjusting the pitch and angle of the seat is more in the passenger’s control than ever before. Mood lighting and preset seating positions such as Relax, Work or Sleep can all be controlled from the panel. 

In terms of hardware, the pull-out tray table is now stowed under the screen, which solves the issue that business-class passengers once had of having to adjust seating such that they didn’t knock the table or their food at certain seat angles. There’s also an adjustable handrest that can be lowered, like its predecessor, to increase the surface area of the bed once the seat lies flat. 

Even the walls have been given an upgrade with Cathay Pacific’s Gallery in the Skies initiative whereby art experts Dr Henrietta Tsui-Leung and Alan Lo help select artworks by artists with deep connections to Hong Kong for display inside each Boeing 777-300ER Business cabin. 

A curtain away in Premium Economy, the cabin is arranged in a two-three-two configuration. It’s an upgrade that sees functions packed into a comfortably redesigned seat blending leather and woven fabric for more comfortable travel. The highlights, similar to its business-class companion, are privacy, increased storage and an upgraded screen. At 15.6 inches with 4K that can also be paired with Bluetooth devices, it goes a long way to help flights go by quicker. Touch controls have also been upgraded for a more seamless experience. 

Each seat has a built-in reading light that creates a more personal environment as well as increased privacy. The recline has been increased, but the domino effect it has on passengers behind means that it’s difficult to get in and out once the seat is pushed back. Each seat also comes with a new supported headrest as well as lumbar support that makes reclining easier on backs, which is not always the case with Premium Economy and Economy seats. 

USB-C and USB outlets as well as a universal socket are all centrally located under the armrest. The tray table is stowed in the armrest as before but there’s
a new compartment under the screen for water bottles and a shared space between the middle armrests for drinks, similar to older versions of Cathay Pacific business-class seats. 

Both the Aria Suite and the new Premium Economy cabin are currently available only on flights from Hong Kong to Tokyo and back, so this passenger has yet to truly test the limits of the new seating. But the airline will be releasing one refit per month over the next three years. In the meantime, it’s worth sorting out your next trip to Tokyo with the aim to secure an Aria Suite. That three-and-a-half-hour flight is definitely going to leave you wanting to settle in for the long haul as soon as you can. 

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